Compare the2023 GMC Sierra HDVS 2023 Nissan Titan XD

Both the Sierra HD and the Titan XD have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Sierra HD’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Titan XD’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 55 percent more GMC dealers than there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sierra HD’s warranty.

The GMC Sierra HD’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the Titan XD’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

In the GMC Sierra HD, the optional 6.6 turbo V8 diesel has a gear driven camshaft to prevent engine damage from a broken camshaft belt or chain. Gears don’t exert side forces against the camshaft that can wear the cam bearings. The engine in the Nissan all use chain driven camshafts.

The Sierra HD has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Titan XD doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Sierra HD has a standard 720-amp battery (1460 optional). The Titan XD’s 710-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sierra HD’s reliability 49 points higher than the Titan XD.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sierra HD third among large heavy duty pickups in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Titan XD isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that GMC vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks GMC above average in initial quality. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Nissan With 13 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks GMC higher than Nissan.

The Sierra HD’s 6.6 V8 produces 1 more horsepower (401 vs. 400) and 51 lbs.-ft. more torque (464 vs. 413) than the Titan XD’s 5.6 DOHC V8.

The Sierra HD’s 6.6 turbo V8 diesel produces 45 more horsepower (445 vs. 400) and 497 lbs.-ft. more torque (910 vs. 413) than the Titan XD’s 5.6 DOHC V8.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the GMC Sierra HD uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Titan XD requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Sierra HD Diesel Regular Cab’s standard fuel tank has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Titan XD (28 vs. 26 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Sierra HD’s standard fuel tank has 10 gallons more fuel capacity than the Titan XD (36 vs. 26 gallons).

The Sierra HD Gas Engine has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Titan XD doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the GMC Sierra HD, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the Titan XD.

The Sierra HD stops shorter than the Titan XD:

The GMC Sierra HD’s wheels have 8 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Nissan Titan XD only has 6 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Sierra HD has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Titan XD doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Sierra HD SLT/AT4/Denali’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Titan XD doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sierra 2500HD Standard Bed Crew Cab’s wheelbase is 7.3 inches longer than on the Titan XD (158.9 inches vs. 151.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sierra HD is 3.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Titan XD.

For better maneuverability, the Sierra 2500HD Long Bed Regular Cab’s turning circle is 6.9 feet tighter than the Titan XD’s (46.9 feet vs. 53.8 feet).

The GMC Sierra HD may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 250 pounds less than the Nissan Titan XD.

The Sierra HD Crew Cab shortbed has a much larger cargo box than the Titan XD Crew Cab shortbed (69.5 vs. 59.6 cubic feet).

The Sierra HD’s cargo box is larger than the Titan XD’s in every dimension:

The GMC Sierra HD has a standard CornerStep, which allows for much easier access to the cargo area. A rear cargo step is only available on the Nissan Titan XD PRO-4X/Platinum Reserve/SV Regular Cab for extra cost.

The Sierra HD has an all welded cargo box to eliminate possible corrosion spots and to provide better chassis stiffness. The cargo box in the Titan XD is bolted through the bed to the frame with large bolts. These bolts are a prime area for corrosion to start as the normal flexing of the truck’s chassis causes them to eat through the finish; they can also snag cargo as it slides in and out.

The Sierra HD’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Titan XD’s (16410 vs. 10898 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Nissan Titan XD Crew Cab is only 11033 pounds. The Sierra 3500HD Long Bed Regular Cab offers up to a 36,000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Sierra HD 4x4 can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Sierra HD can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Titan XD can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Sierra HD has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Titan XD (3576 vs. 2240 lbs.).

The Sierra HD has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Titan XD (7145 vs. 2240 lbs.).

The Sierra HD AT4/Denali offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Titan XD doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Sierra HD’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Titan XD’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows available on both the Sierra HD and the Titan XD have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Sierra HD is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Titan XD prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Sierra HD’s basic available front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Titan XD’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

Keyless Open and Start optional on the Sierra HD (except Pro) allows you to unlock the doors, tailgate and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading cargo, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Nissan Titan XD’s available Intelligent Key doesn’t unlock the tailgate.

The Sierra HD’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Titan XD S/SV’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Sierra HD has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Titan XD S doesn’t offer rear vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the GMC Sierra HD (except Pro/SLE) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Titan XD doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The GMC Sierra HD comes in regular cab, extended cab and crew cab bodystyles; the Nissan Titan XD isn’t available as a regular cab or extended cab.

The Sierra HD is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Titan XD doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The GMC Sierra outsold the Nissan Titan by over 9 to one during the 2021 model year.